Mr. Big Sale and Mr. Refreshment

If Monday was a very lazy day, it was only right for me to expect that Tuesday wouldn’t be a regular day. It was like having an extra long weekend that I didn’t have to go to the Jakarta office on Monday, thanks to the Labor Day demonstrations.

Came Tuesday. I didn’t realize that the special something that was happening in the building would create such a havoc in finding a parking spot, in which I never had any problem previously. The elevators were jammed with people, mostly I haven’t seen before around the buildings. People started to use the emergency stairs to incredibly climb 6 flights of stairs to lay their hands on one of the ultimate sales of the year.

While some of us were panting and gasping for air to land our feet on the place, some people were descending the same staircase with big smiles and big red “on-sale” plastic bags, there was an incredibly large printing of Guess on top of it. Finally, our group of strangers behaving erratically triumphed in getting into the 9th floor. Wow, what an achievement. I wonder why none of us had fainted or collapsed in the fight to reach the sale floor. Maybe it was the spirit of togetherness or the born-to-shop determination or maybe it was our predatory instinct to out-fashion other bargain hunters.

I could only remember two annual sales in Batavian history that would even come close to this madness: the Mango and of course the annual Zara sales. But then again, this event was of course one of PT. GAP’s strongest brands on sale: Guess and Raoul (did I see M&S too? Can’t remember clearly).

Clothing, shoes, jeans, watches, belts, even bags and accessories! 30-70% off!! Lemme, tell ya… I felt like I was dead and awoken in some exotic paradise called the bargain heaven. Piles of clothing items were being scattered on tables as if it wouldn’t have any fashion/ price value (Yes, even post-discounts, some items were still unbelievably expensive).

How would this mass-hysteria happen during office hours? How many people cheated their bosses just to come to the first day sale (they think it’s the best stocked day), only to find their bosses were there as well to beckon them in returning to their works. It was like a white-collared version of sweet revenge on the previous day of blue-collar demonstrations through out the city.

The best part was of course the crowd. Oh, you’d have to be there to see the first day. Cute people were everywhere, as if it was mandatory to dress up for the bargain. Yuppies, students, in between jobs, friends and foes (“Why didn’t you tell me there was this sale? But you’re already here anyway!”), or the same people you’d see strutting the lanes of place de l’existance (or EX, per-Mr. Bantal’s word). The moral of the story is: Discounts are always sweet, even if you can afford the full price.

Some were fighting for the same shoes, some didn’t even realize that they’d lost their kids, some went into delirium, some maxed out their credits. Even the queue at the purchase lane was an equivalent of getting into Puri Misteri in Dunia Fantasi.

As I checked out, the cashier asked me,
“Is that all Sir? Didn’t find many interesting stuffs?”
“Yeah, you guys didn’t have my size”
“Pshhhsst… (she then leaned forward as if she was dropping a DaVinci scale secret)… Come again tomorrow… we will refresh most of the items… even the ones you haven’t seen today…”

“Now, we’re talking!” I sang in my brain.
My pupils were suddenly dilated. Not because of the news that she had to pass on to me, it was this guy who just walked behind her, one of the staffs or the managers. He who looked so hot in his black t-shirt, and a tight pair of jeans in which showed the structure of his bublicious gluteus maximus. Ah, his sideburns and youthful vigor. I melted right there.

I think I will definitely visit the big sale again before it went out on Friday, maybe just to see him for the last time (ah, the unfolding drama!).

It was my turn then to lean toward the cashier,
“Mbak sini deh… You think I can refresh that guy instead?” I pointed casually towards him.

She gave me a very deep and understanding smile, and unexpectedly she again leaned forward to my direction.

“…..”

“Thanks banget Mbak”

I left with a big grin on my face.